Panel estimates Lakkundi treasure to be at least 500 years old

Treasure found in Lakkundi of Gadag district which comprised mainly gold ornaments is estimated to be at least 500-600 years old.

Members of the Treasure Evaluation Committee led by archaeologist H.S. Krishna Murthy verified and evaluated the gold ornaments in Gadag on Tuesday, before coming out with their assessment on the age of the ornaments.

“After verification of the size and design of the 466 grams of gold ornaments found in Lakkundi, it is estimated that they may be of the age of Vijayanagar empire. The common public did not use ornaments having faces of lion and keertimukh (face of glory). They appear to be ornaments made for offering to a female deity,” Mr. Krishna Murthy told presspersons.

Crores worth

“In the golden ornaments we have found pearls, emerald and blue sapphire. According to the rate of gold, the value of the ornaments will be ₹80 lakh. However, since they are ancient, the value will be 10 times more,” he said.

After gold ornaments weighing around a half a kilogram were found in a container during excavation for renovation of a house belong to the Ritti family in Lakkundi village of Gadag taluk on January 10, the State government constituted the five-member committee led by Mr. Krisnha Murthy to evaluate the age of the treasure.

Found by Rittis

The treasure, kept in a copper container (charige/ tambige), was found at a depth of five feet when workers were excavating for laying the foundation of the house being built by the Ritti family.

Prajwal Ritti was the first to notice the container with about half-a-kilogram of gold ornaments. Subsequently, he and his family members handed it over to the local administration. The news of treasure being found in Lakkundi caught the attention of the whole country.

An excavation is already under way near Kote Virabhadreshwar Swami Temple in Lakkundi where various Neolithic relics have been found.